Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Corporate Director Governance seeking approval for changes to the Constitution in relation to speaking rights at Planning Committee (Standing Order 42) and Contract Standing Orders.

Council RESOLVED

(1)    To approve the amendments to the Constitution as detailed within Appendix 1 of the report relating to speaking rights at Planning Committee (Standing Order 57) and the Procurement Rules within Contract Standing Orders.

(2)    Following on from (1) above, to authorise the Corporate Director of Governance to amend the Constitution accordingly, including making any necessary incidental or consequential changes.

(3)    To note that, to the extent that the changes related to executive functions of the Council, they had been approved by the Leader.

Eligible for Call-In: No

The Mayor then invited Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of the Council, to introduce a report from the Corporate Director of Governance outlining a number of proposed changes to the Constitution.  In introducing the report, it was noted that the changes related to speaking rights for public organisations, such as the Police, at Planning Committee and the Council’s Procurement Rules.

The Mayor thanked the Leader for introducing the report and then opened the debate for contributions from other members.

Referring to the changes proposed in relation to speaking rights at Planning Committee meetings, Councillor Lorber also took the opportunity to highlight what he felt was an additional need to consider allowing members of the public who had spoken in objection to an application the ability to sum up at the end of the associated debate, prior to any final decision being made by the Committee.  Based on experience, he felt this would further enhance public engagement and participation in the process.

As no other members indicated they wished to speak the Mayor invited Councillor Muhammed Butt to exercise his right of reply.  In closing the debate, Councillor Muhammed Butt took the opportunity to remind members of the role and function of the Constitutional Working Group which he advised would be the appropriate forum to undertake consideration (on a cross-party basis) of any further suggestions relating to public speaking rights at meetings, reminding members of what he felt were the extensive arrangements already in place in relation to Planning Committee.  On this basis, he commended the report as submitted to the Council.

Having thanked Councillor Muhammed Butt for closing the debate, the Mayor then put the recommendations in the report to the vote and they were declared CARRIED.

Council therefore RESOLVED:

(1)    To approve the amendments to the Constitution as detailed within Appendix 1 of the report relating to speaking rights at Planning Committee (Standing Order 57) and the Procurement Rules within Contract Standing Orders.

(2)    Following on from (1) above, to authorise the Corporate Director of Governance to amend the Constitution accordingly, including making any necessary incidental or consequential changes.

(3)    To note that, to the extent that the changes related to executive functions of the Council, they had been approved by the Leader.